Petronio

Petronio (died August 1492) was Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia's valet during the Papal conclave of 1492. He impressed Borgia with his knowledge of other cardinals' weaknesses, such as the fact that Cardinal Ascanio Sforza's valet engaged in sodomy with women, and Borgia warned him to stay silent about his own conversations, lest his tongue be cut out. After the election, Petronio was driven to demand more money by his discovery of the duplicity of the College of Cardinals, and he threatened to reveal the "unholy" election of the new Pope. Petronio warned Francesc Gacet that he would reveal the Pope's secrets unless he received more ducats and titles, so Francesc cut his tongue out, killing him.